About this Service

Brooklyn Trails is a nature-based arts program for children ages 4-7, held in the heart of Prospect Park. Rooted in the belief that creativity thrives in open spaces and unstructured moments, Brooklyn Trails invites children to slow down, observe the natural world, and express themselves through art, storytelling, and play.

Each day unfolds outdoors, guided by an emergent, child-centered curriculum that encourages curiosity, autonomy, and collaboration. Activities range from dollhouse furniture building, mixed-media sculpture to bookbinding, embroidery, and puppet making—always with a focus on process over product. Using natural and recycled materials, children are free to tinker, imagine, and make meaningful connections to both their environment and each other.

The program is intentionally small and responsive, designed to nurture the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively—through a daily rhythm of exploration, art-making, and joyful discovery.

About this Lister

In 2020, Sydney founded Brooklyn Trails, an outdoor arts program based in Prospect Park that blends nature, creativity, and child-led exploration. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in consent, open play, autonomy, and hands-on skill building.

Sydney sees herself as a co-learner in every teaching environment—whether she’s working with adults, young children, or babies—fostering mutual discovery and respect. She thoughtfully incorporates recycled and natural materials into her lessons to spark observation, experimentation, and imaginative thinking.

As an educator, Sydney’s goal is to ignite curiosity and cultivate a lifelong love of learning, art-making, and play through open-ended, sensory-rich experiences.

Background and Expertise

Sydney is a passionate educator with over 10 years of experience working with children and families. She began her teaching journey leading creative writing and GED prep classes, and later worked as a birth and postpartum doula before transitioning fully into early childhood education.

Since 2016, Sydney has taught parent–child classes across Manhattan and Brooklyn, including at Union Square Play and through private programs. She also led Waldorf-inspired nature classes in Central Park with Brooklyn Forest, deepening her love for outdoor, child-led learning.

Sydney brings warmth, creativity, and intention to every interaction—meeting children where they are and encouraging curiosity, independence, and imaginative exploration. As the founder of Brooklyn Trails, she is committed to creating a safe, joyful, and enriching experience for every child.